BJP MP writes to Amit Shah over ‘flawed’ civic volunteer recruitment in Bengal

Purulia MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking intervention in what he claims as a “flawed civic volunteer recruitment system” in West Bengal.
Mahato’s letter raises alarm over the state’s approach to hiring civic volunteers instead of regular police personnel, a practice he alleged is detrimental to both public safety and employment opportunities for young aspirants.
In his letter, Mahato said that the ongoing recruitment of civic volunteers — coupled with the suspension of permanent police hiring —has dire consequences for the security landscape of West Bengal.
“The West Bengal government, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been persistently hiring civic volunteers on a contractual basis, thereby undermining the regular police recruitment process. The Supreme Court has recently voiced serious concerns regarding this matter in the RG Kar Hospital case, urging the state government to disclose its recruitment procedures for civic volunteers,” the letter read.
Mahato also pointed out the court’s apprehension about delegating law enforcement responsibilities to people who may be politically affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
He further noted that the Calcutta High Court had previously criticised the West Bengal government’s reliance on civic volunteers instead of enlisting permanent police officers.
The court pointed out that many of these volunteers lack the necessary training and accountability, resulting in significant lapses in law and order.
“One civic volunteer was even implicated as the prime suspect in the heinous rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital, bringing to the forefront the alarming ramifications of this recruitment strategy,” Mahato added.
The MP expressed concerns that the trend of contracting civic volunteers has fostered an ineffective police force more beholden to political interests than to the rule of law.
“These volunteers, often under-trained and underpaid, are particularly susceptible to corruption and manipulation. The Supreme Court has echoed grave concerns about the political patronage afforded to these individuals, calling for an exhaustive review of the system,” he wrote, warning that this practice erodes the integrity of law enforcement and creates a parallel system that undermines the state’s governance.
To combat these issues, Mahato urged a thorough investigation into the recruitment of civic volunteers to curb political manipulation, while advocating for a rigorous oversight of the state government’s submissions in ongoing Supreme Court hearings regarding these individuals.
The BJP leader also emphasised the necessity of promoting permanent police recruitment based on merit to protect the aspirations of young citizens.
He insisted that the West Bengal government must ensure fair integration of Agniveers into the police force and safeguard against the misuse of the OBC quota for political gain.